Glycosyl hydrolase genes and their use for producing enzymes for the biodegradation of carrageenans

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the iota-carrageenase of  Alteromonas fortis  which is greater than or equal to 65% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 2 of said iota-carrageenase, and to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of  Alteromonas carrageenovora  which is greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 6 of said kappa-carrageenase.

[0001] The present invention relates to glycosyl hydrolase genes for the biotechnological production of oligosaccharides, especially sulfated oligo-carrageenans and more particularly oligo-iota-carrageenans and oligo-kappa-carrageenans, by the biodegradation of carrageenans.

[0002] The sulfated galactans of Rhodophyceae, such as agars and carrageenans, represent the major polysaccharides of Rhodophyceae and are very widely used as gelling agents or thickeners in various branches of activity, especially agri-foodstuffs. About 6000 tonnes of agars and 22,000 tonnes of carrageenans are extracted annually from red seaweeds for this purpose. Agars are commercially produced by red seaweeds of the genera Gelidium and Gracilaria. Carrageenans, on the other hand, are widely extracted from the genera Chondrus, Gigartina and Eucheuma.

[0003] Carrageenans consist of repeat D-galactose units alternately bonded by β1→4 and α1→3 linkages. Depending on the number and position of sulfate ester groups on the repeat disaccharide of the molecule, carrageenans are thus divided into several different types, namely: kappa-carrageenans, which possess one sulfate ester group, iota-carrageenans, which possess two sulfate ester groups, and lambda-carrageenans, which possess three sulfate ester groups.

[0004] The physicochemical properties and the uses of these polysaccharides as gelling agents are based on their capacity to undergo ball-helix conformational transitions as a function of the thermal and ionic environment [Kloareg et al., Oceanography and Marine Biology—An annual review 26: 259-315 (1988)].

[0005] Furthermore, carrageenans are structural analogs of the sulfated polysaccharides of the animal extracellular matrix (heparin, chondroitin, keratan, dermatan) and they exhibit biological activities which are related to certain functions of these glycosaminoglycans.

[0006] In particular, carrageenans are known:

[0007] (i)—for their action on the immune system, causing the secretion of interleukin or prostaglandins,

[0008] (ii)—for their antiviral action on the AIDS virus HIV 1, the herpes virus HSV1 and the hepatitis A virus,

[0009] (iii)—as antagonists of the fixation of the growth factors of human cells,

[0010] (iv)—and also for their action on the proliferation of keratinocytes and their action on the contractility of fibroblasts.

[0011] Furthermore, oligocarrageenans act on the adherence, the division and the protein synthesis of human cell cultures, doubtless as structural analogs of the glycosylated part of the proteins of the extracellular matrix. In plants, oligocarrageenans very significantly elicit enzymatic activities which are markers of growth (amylase) or of the phenolic defense metabolism (laminarinase, phenyl-alanineammonium lyase).

[0012] Carrageenans are extracted from red seaweeds by conventional processes such as hot aqueous extraction, and oligocarrageenans are obtained from carrageenans by chemical hydrolysis or, preferably, by enzymatic hydrolysis.

[0013] The production of oligocarrageenans by enzymatic hydrolysis generally comprises the following steps:

[0014] 1) production of a glycosyl hydrolase by the culture of a marine bacterium;

[0015] 2) enzymatic hydrolysis of the carrageenan with the glycosyl hydrolase thus obtained; and

[0016] 3) fractionation and purification of the oligocarrageenans obtained.

[0017] Microorganisms which produce enzymes capable of hydrolyzing iota- and kappa-carrageenans were, isolated by Bellion et al. in 1982 [Can. J. Microbiol. 28: 874-80 (1982)]. Some are specific for κ- or -carrageenan and others are capable of hydrolyzing both substrates. Another group of bacteria capable of degrading carrageenans was characterized by Sarwar et al. in 1983 [J. Gen. Appl. Microbiol. 29: 145-55 (1983)]. These yellow-orange bacteria are assigned to the Cytophaga group of bacteria and some of these bacteria have the property of hydrolyzing both agar and carrageenans.

[0018] Purification and characterisation of several ι-carrageenases and κ-carrageenases, such as the ι-carrageenase and κ-carrageenase of Cytophaga drobachiensis, the ι-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis and the κ-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora, were described in the thesis of P. Potin [“Recherche, production, purification et caracterisation de galactane-hydrolases pour la preparation des parois d'algues rouges”, (February 1992)]. A detailed study of the κ-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora was described by Potin et al. [Eur. J. Biochem. 228, 971-975 (1995)].

[0019] The availability of specific enzymes and tools for obtaining oligocarrageenans by genetic engineering could markedly improve their production.

[0020] The Applicant has now found novel glycosyl hydrolase genes which make it possible specifically to obtain either oligo-iota-carrageenans or oligo-kappa-carrageenans.

[0021] Thus the present invention relates to novel genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis which is greater than or equal to 65%, preferably greater than or equal to 70% and advantageously greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of the sequence [SEQ ID No. 2] of the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis.

[0022] The present invention relates more particularly to the nucleic acid sequence [SED ID No. 1] which codes for an iota-carrageenase as defined above, the amino acid sequence of which is the sequence [SEQ ID No. 2].

[0023] The present invention further relates to the genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora which is greater than or equal to 75%, preferably greater than 80% and advantageously greater than 85% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of the sequence [SEQ ID NI. 6] of the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora.

[0024] In particular, the invention relates to the nucleic acid sequence [SEQ ID No. 7] which codes for a kappa-carrageenase having a score as defined above, the amino acid sequence of which is the sequence [SEQ ID No. 8].

[0025] The glycosyl hydrolase genes of the invention are obtained by a process which consists in selecting proteins having an HCA score with the iota-arrageenase of Alteromonas fortis which is greater than or equal to 65%, preferably greater than or equal to 70% and advantageously greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of the sequence [SEQ ID No. 2] of the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis, and in sequencing the resulting genes by the conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art.

[0026] The glycosyl hydrolase genes of the invention can also be obtained by a process which consists in selecting proteins having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora which is greater than or equal to 75%, preferably greater than 80% and advantageously greater than 85% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of the sequence [SEQ ID No. 6] of the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora, and in sequencing the resulting genes by the conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art.

[0027] Finally, the present invention relates to the use of the above glycosyl hydrolase genes for obtaining, by genetic engineering, glycosyl hydrolases which are useful for the biotechnological production of oligocarrageenans.

[0028] The glycosyl hydrolases according to the invention are therefore characterized by the HCA score which they possess with a particular domain of the amino acid sequence of the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis or the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora.

[0029] The HCA or “Hydrophobic Cluster Analysis” method is a method of analyzing the sequences of proteins represented as a two-dimensional structure, which has been described by Gaboriaud et al. [FEBS Letters 224, 149-155 (1987)].

[0030] It is known that the three-dimensional structure of a protein governs its biological properties, the production of an active protein demanding correct folding.

[0031] It is also known that the primary structure of proteins varies much more substantially than the higher-order structures and that proteins can be grouped into families which show similar secondary and tertiary structures but sometimes have such divergent primary sequences that the mutual relationship between such proteins is not obvious. The code which relates primary structure and secondary structure therefore appears to be highly degenerate since very different primary structures can ultimately lead to similar secondary and tertiary structures [Structure 3, 853-859 (1995) and Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92 (1995)].

[0032] The use of the HCA method has shown that the distribution, size and shape of these hydrophobic clusters along the amino acid sequences are representative of the 3D folding of the proteins studied.

[0033] Also, Woodcock et al. [Protein Eng. 5, 629-635 (1992)] have shown that the hydrophobic clusters defined by the α-helical 2D diagram are statistically centered on the regular secondary structures (α-helices, β-strands), that the 2D diagram based on the α-helix carries the greatest amount of structural information and that the correspondence between hydrophobic clusters and elements of secondary structure is of the same quality for any type of folding (all α, all β, α/β and α+β), thus demonstrating that the HCA method can be used irrespective of the type of protein.

[0034] L. Lemesle-Varloot et al. [Biochimie 72, 555-574 (1990)] have shown that when two proteins have a similar distribution of hydrophobic clusters over a domain of at least 50 residues, their three-dimensional structures in this domain are considered to be superimposable and their functions to be analogous.

[0035] Thus, for example, Barbeyron et al. [Gene 139, 105-109 (1994)] used this HCA method for the comparison of the similarities in the shape, distribution and size of several hydrophobic clusters of the κ-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora with respect to enzymes from family 16 of glycosyl hydrolases.

[0036] The two-dimensional representation used in the HCA method is an α-helix in which the amino acids are arranged by computer processing to give 3.6 residues per turn. To obtain an easily readable plane image, the helix is cut in the longitudinal direction. Finally, to obtain the whole of the hydrophobic clusters situated at the edges of the image, the diagram is duplicated. The method uses a code which recognizes only two states: the hydrophobic state and the hydrophilic state.

[0037] The amino acids recognized as being hydrophobic are identified and grouped into characteristic geometric figures. Using these two states makes it possible to become independent of the tolerance shown by the two- and three-dimensional structures towards the variability of the primary sequences. Furthermore, this representation affords rapid observation of interactions over a short or medium distance since the first amino acid and the second, adjacent amino acid of a given residue are located on a segment of 17 amino acids. Finally, in contrast to the analytical methods based on the primary or secondary structures of proteins, no “window” of predefined length is used.

[0038] The fundamental characteristic of the α-helix representation is that, for a given globular protein or only a domain of this protein, the distribution of the hydrophobic residues on the diagram is not random. The hydrophobic residues (VILFWMY) form clusters of varying geometry and size. On the diagram, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic faces of the amphiphilic helices are very recognizable. Thus a horizontal diamond cluster corresponds to the hydrophobic face of an α-helix, the internal helices appear as large horizontal hydrophobic clusters and the β-strands appear as rather short, vertical hydrophobic clusters. The method makes it possible to identify the hydrophobic residues forming the core of the globular proteins and to locate the elements of secondary structure, namely the α-helices and the β-strands, independently of any knowledge of the secondary structure of the protein studied.

[0039] The HCA score between two proteins is calculated as follows:

[0040] For each cluster:

HCA score=2CR/(RC ₁ +RC ₂)×100%

[0041] where

[0042] RC₁ and RC₂ are the number of hydrophobic residues in the cluster of protein 1 (cluster 1) and the cluster of protein 2 (cluster 2), respectively.

[0043] CR is the number of hydrophobic residues in the cluster 1 which correspond to the hydrophobic residues in the cluster 2.

[0044] The mean value obtained for all the clusters along the protein sequences compared gives the final HCA score.

[0045] On the HCA profiles, the amino acids are represented by their standard code of a single letter, with the exception of proline (P), glycine (G), serine (S) and threonine (T).

[0046] In fact, because of their particular properties, these residues are represented by the special symbols indicated below so as to facilitate their visual identification on the HCA diagrams (cf. list of abbreviations).

[0047] Proline introduces high constraints into the polypeptide chain and is considered systematically as an interruption in the clusters. In fact, proline residues stop or deform the helices and the lamellae. Glycine possesses a very substantial conformational flexibility because of the absence of a side chain in this amino acid. Serine and threonine are normally hydrophilic, but they can also be found in hydrophobic environments, such as α-helices, in which their hydroxyl group loses their hydrophilic character because of the hydrogen bond formed with the carbonyl group of the main chain. Within the hydrophobic β-lamellae, threonine is sometimes capable of replacing hydrophobic residues by virtue of the methyl group on its side chain.

[0048] Amino acids can be divided into four groups according to their hydrophobicity:

[0049] (i)—strongly hydrophobic residues: V, I, L and F;

[0050] (ii)—moderately hydrophobic residues: W, M and Y

[0051] →W appears at surface sites more frequently than F,

[0052] →M is encountered at various sites, internal or otherwise,

[0053] →Y can adapt to internal hydrophobic environments and is frequently found in loops;

[0054] (iii)—weakly hydrophobic residues: A and C are virtually insensitive to the hydrophobic character of their environment; and

[0055] (iv)—hydrophilic residues: D, E, N, Q, H, K and R.

[0056] Using this HCA method, the Applicant has found that proteins having an HCA score with the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis which is greater than or equal to 65% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of said iota-carrageenase are enzymes of the glycosyl hydrolase type and more particularly iota-carrageenases appropriate for the production of oligo-iota-carrageenans from carrageenans.

[0057] The proteins having an HCA score which is greater than or equal to 70%, preferably greater than or equal to 75%, with the above domain 164-311 are particularly preferred for the purposes of the invention.

[0058] One particular example of glycosyl hydrolase obtained with a gene according to the invention is the protein having the amino acid sequence [SEQ ID No. 2], extracted from Alteromonas fortis.

[0059] Another particular example of glycosyl hydrolase obtained with a gene according to the invention is the protein having the amino acid sequence [SEQ ID No. 4], extracted from Cytophaga drobachiensis.

[0060] Likewise, the Applicant has found that proteins having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora which is greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of said kappa-carrageenase are enzymes of the glycosyl hydrolase type and more particularly kappa-carrageenases appropriate for the production of oligo-kappa-carrageenans from carrageenans.

[0061] The proteins having an HCA score which is greater than or equal to 80%, preferably greater than or equal to 85%, with the above domain 117-262 are particularly preferred for the purposes of the invention.

[0062] The above proteins are advantageously extracted from marine bacteria.

[0063] One particular example of glycosyl hydrolase obtained with a gene according to the invention is the protein having the amino acid sequence [SEQ ID No. 6], extracted from Alteromonas carrageenovora.

[0064] Another particular example of glycosyl hydrolase obtained with a gene according to the invention is the protein having the amino acid sequence [SEQ ID No. 8], extracted from Cytophaga drobachiensis.

[0065] As indicated previously, the genes according to the invention, coding for glycosyl hydrolases, can be obtained by sequencing the genome of bacteria which product glycosyl hydrolases, as defined above, by the conventional methods well known to those skilled in the art.

[0066] The invention further relates to the expression vectors which carry the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention, with the means for their expression.

[0067] These expression vectors can be used to transform prokaryotic microorganisms, particularly Escherichia coli, or eukaryotic cells such as yeasts or fungi.

[0068] The invention will now be described in greater detail by means of the illustrative and non-limiting Examples below.

[0069] The methods used in these Examples are methods well known to those skilled in the art, which are described in detail in the work by Sambrook, Fristsch and Maniatis entitled “Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual”, published in 1989 by Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York (2nd edition).

[0070] The following description will be understood more clearly with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 4, which respectively show the following:

[0071]FIG. 1: The maximum similarity alignment, according to the method of Needleman and Wunsch [J. Mol. Biol. 48, 443-453 (1970)], of the amino acid sequence of the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis (top part) and the iota-carrageenase of C. drobachiensis (bottom part).

[0072]FIG. 2: The HCA profiles of the amino acid sequences of the iota-carrageenases of Cytophaga drobachiensis and Alteromonas fortis.

[0073]FIG. 3: The maximum similarity alignment, according to the method of Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48, 443-453, of the amino acid sequence of the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora (top part) and Cytophaga drobachiensis (bottom part).

[0074]FIG. 4: The HCA profiles of the amino acid sequences of the kappa-carrageenases of Cytophaga drobachiensis and Alteromonas fortis.

[0075] The abbreviations or special symbols used for the amino acids in the Examples below are as follows:

[0076] Glycine: ⋄

[0077] Proline: *

[0078] Threonine:¤

[0079] Sérine:

[0080] Alanine: A

[0081] Valine: V

[0082] Leucine: L

[0083] Isoleucine: I

[0084] Methionine: M

[0085] Phenylalanine: F

[0086] Tryptophan: W

[0087] Cysteine: C

[0088] Asparagine: N

[0089] Glutamine: Q

[0090] Tyrosine: Y

[0091] Aspartate: D

[0092] Glutamate: E

[0093] Lysine: K

[0094] Arginine: R

[0095] Histidine: H

EXAMPLE 1

[0096] The Iota-carrageenases of Cytophaga drobachiensis and Alteromonas fortis

[0097] Section 1:

[0098] Cloning of the Genes of the Iota-carrageenases of Cytophaga drobachiensis and Alteromoizas fortis

[0099]Cytophaga drobachieiisis was isolated by the Applicant from the red seaweed Delesseria sanguinea [Eur. J. Biochem. 201: 241-247 (1991)]. Alteromonas fortis (ATCC 43554) was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. The strains were cultivated on a Zobell medium at 25° C.

[0100] Genome libraries of the DNAs of C. drobachiensis and A. fortis were constructed.

[0101] The strain used to construct these libraries, namely Escherichia coli DH5α (Rec A, endA1, gyrA96, thi1, hsdR17 [rk− mk+], supE44, relA1, lacZΔM15), was cultivated on Luria-Bertani medium (LB medium) at 37° C. or on a so-called Zd medium (bactotryptone 0.5 g/l, yeast extract 1 g/l, NaCl 10 g/l; pH=7.2) at 22° C., to which 2% of κ-carrageenan were added.

[0102] Ampicillin (50 μg/ml) or tetracycline (15 μg/ml) was added to the agar or non-agar culture media from stock solutions prepared in 50% ethanol (to avoid solidification at the storage temperature, −20° C.), except in the case of the non-recombinant strain DH5α.

[0103] The expression vector used is plasmid pAT153 described in Nature 283 216 (1980). This plasmid contains two antibiotic resistance genes: a tetracycline resistance gene and a gene which codes for a β-lactamase, an enzyme of the cytoplasmic membrane which degrades ampicillin.

[0104] The total DNA of C. drobachiensis and the total DNA of A. fortis were prepared by the method described by Barbeyron et al. [J. Bacteriol. 160, 586-590 (1984)].

[0105] The genomic DNAs of C. drobachiensis and A. fortis were cleaved with the restriction endonucleases NdeII and Sau3AI respectively. In fact, in the case of C. drobachiensis, the restriction endonuclease NdeII was used preferentially because the DNA of this bacterium is methylated on the C residue of the GATC sequence.

[0106] The purified DNA fragments of 5000 to 10,000 bp were cloned at the BamHI site of plasmid pAT153, which cleaves the tetracycline resistance gene.

[0107] 6000 clones were obtained in each of the genome libraries.

[0108] The five positive C. drobachiensis clones and the two positive A. fortis clones, which hollowed out a hole in the ι-carrageenan after one week of culture at 22° C., are referred to respectively as pIC1 to pIC5 and pIP1 to pIP2.

[0109] 1. Cloning from C. drobachiensis

[0110] The cloning of this gene is described in detail by T. Barbeyron in the doctoral thesis examined on Oct. 28, 1993 at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Roscoff.

[0111] The plasmid DNA was isolated from the above five clones by the alkaline lysis method [Nucleic Acid Res. 7: 1513 (1979)].

[0112] The sizes and mapping of the inserts showing an ι-carrageenase activity were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis after single and double digestion of their plasmids with various restriction enzymes.

[0113] The DNA fragments were extracted from the agarose by the glass wool method.

[0114] All the plasmids obtained contain an identical PvuII fragment of 3.3 kb.

[0115] This fragment was subcloned in phagemid pbluescript KSII (Stratagene) (pICP07 and pICP16).

[0116] Likewise, the internal NdeI fragment and a HindIII fragment partially comprising the PvuII fragment were subcloned to give the pICN22 and pICH42 subclones, respectively.

[0117] To locate the ι-carrageenase gene, libraries were constructed from the pICP07 and pICP16 subclones in phagemid pbluescript with the aid of the exonuclease III of E. coli, using the “ExoIII” kit from Pharmacia.

[0118] The subclones and the ExoIII clones obtained were plated onto Zd medium solidified with κ-carrageenan.

[0119] Only the pICP16 and pICP07 clones and the ExoIII pICPO74 and pICPO712 clones (obtained by degradation with ExoIII for 4 minutes and 12 minutes, respectively, from the pICP07 clone) are ι-carrageenase-positive.

[0120] 2. Cloning from Alteromonas fortis

[0121] The DNA of the pIP1 and pIP2 clones showed inserts of 10.45 kb and 4.125 kb respectively, having a common fragment of 3 kb. These clones showed a positive ι-carrageenase activity. Different fragments were subcloned and plated as described above. However, none of the subclones obtained proved to be ι-carrageenase-positive.

[0122] Section 2

[0123] Determination of the Nucleotide Sequences of the Genes coding for the ι-carrageenases of Cytophaga drobachiensis and Alteromonas fortis

[0124] 1. Sequence of the Cytophaga drobachiensis Gene

[0125] Plasmid pICP0712 was used to determine the nucleotide sequence of the gene responsible for the ι-carrageenase activity of C. drobachiensis [SEQ ID No. 3].

[0126] This nucleotide sequence is composed of 1837 bp. Translation of the six reading frames revealed only one open frame, called cgiA. The potential initiation codon is situated 333 bp beyond the 5′P end of the sequence.

[0127] The protein sequence [SEQ ID No. 4] deduced from the sequence of cgiA is composed of 391 amino acids, corresponding to a theoretical molecular weight of 53.4 kDa. The hydropathic profile of this protein shows a hydrophobic region covering the first 24 amino acids. The presence of a positively charged amino acid (Lys) followed by a hydrophobic block and then by a polar segment of six amino acids suggests that this domain could be a signal peptide. According to the analyses performed by the method of Von Heijne [J. Mol. Biol. 184: 99-105 (1985)], the signal peptidase would cleave between valine (Val²⁴) and threonine (Thr²⁵). The mature protein devoid of its signal peptide would have a theoretical molecular weight of 50.7 kDa. The identity of the cgiA gene was confirmed by determination of the amino acids at the NH₂ end of the partially purified protein. The sequence obtained matches the one deduced from the nucleotide sequence. The first amino acid is situated 14 residues from the NH₂ end generated by the signal peptidase. As the presence of the two prolines following the amino acids determined by microsequencing had slightly disturbed the order of appearance of the N-terminal residues, the sequence of an internal oligopeptide, purified by HPLC after cleavage with trypsin, was established. The sequence NH₂ATYKCOOH obtained is situated near the C-terminal end of the iotase (residues 396 to 399).

[0128] 2. Sequence of the Alteromoizas fortis Gene

[0129] Plasmids pIHP15 and pIHPX17, subcloned from pIPI and pIP2, were used to determine the nucleotide sequence of the gene responsible for the ι-carrageenase activity of Alteromonas fortis, SEQ ID No. 1. The 2085 bp fragment contains a single open reading frame of 1473 bp, called cgiA. The sequence situated upstream of the initiation codon (ATG²¹¹) is not a coding sequence.

[0130] The protein sequence deduced from the sequence of the A. fortis ι-carrageenase gene [SEQ ID No. 2] consists of 491 amino acids, corresponding to a theoretical molecular weight of 54.802 kDa. In the present case, again, the N-terminal part of the protein exhibits a high hydrophobicity, suggesting that this domain could be a signal peptide; the hypothetical cleavage site would be situated between glycine (Gly²⁶) and alanine (Ala²⁷). The mature protein devoid of its signal peptide would have a theoretical molecular weight of 51.95 kDa, corresponding to a value similar to the molecular weight obtained with the protein purified by SDS-PAGE, namely 57 kDa.

[0131] Section 3

[0132] Comparison of the Protein Sequences of the ι-carrageenases of Cytophaga drobachiensis and Alteromonas fortis

[0133] After removal of the signal peptide from each sequence, it could be seen that the sequence of the ι-carrageenase of C. drobachiensis has similarities to that of the ι-carrageenase of A. fortis.

[0134] In fact, the two sequences of iota-carrageenase have a similarity of 43.2% over the whole of the linear sequence alignment. This similarity is particularly high (57.8%) between amino acids 164 and 311 (numbering of the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis (FIG. 1)).

[0135] At the same time, an HCA analysis showed that the HCA score between the two proteins is 82% over a domain of 293 amino acids and reaches 90.5% in the case of said domain 164-311 (FIG. 2).

[0136] No significant similarity to other polysaccharidases known hitherto could be demonstrated.

[0137] These two enzymes therefore constitute a novel family of glycosyl hydrolases.

EXAMPLE II

[0138] The Kappa-carrageenases of Alteromonas carrageenovora and Cytophaga drobachiensis

[0139] Section 1:

[0140] Cloning of the Kappa-carrageenase Genes

[0141]Alteromonas carrageenovora ATCC 43555 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. The strains A. carrageenovora and C. drobachiensis were cultivated under conditions identical to those mentioned in section 1 of Example I.

[0142] Likewise, genome libraries were constructed using the strain Escherichia coli DH5α and plasmid vector pAT153.

[0143] 1. Cloning from Alteromonas carrageenovora

[0144] The preparation of this gene is described in detail by T. Barbeyron in the thesis cited above (cf. Example 1) and in Gene 139, 105-109 (1994).

[0145] From the genome library of Alteromonas carrageenova, 4 E. coli clones, called K1 to K4, were capable of hydrolyzing kappa-carrageenan.

[0146] Plasmids pKA1 to pKA4 were purified from the four independent clones and mapped with the aid of the restriction endonucleases BamHI, DraI, EcoRI, HindIII, MluI, PstI, PvuII, SalI, SspI, XbaI and XhoI.

[0147] The presence of a 2.2 kb DraI-HindIII fragment was noted in each plasmid.

[0148] This common fragment, which is the whole insert of plasmid pKA3, was sequenced in its entirety from plasmid pKA3.

[0149] 2. Cloning from Cytophaga drobachiensis

[0150] From the genome library of C. drobachiensis, five E. coli clones, called pKC1 to pKC5, were capable of hollowing out a hole in the substrate. The plasmids isolated and purified from said clones were mapped with restriction endonucleases.

[0151] Internal fragments of 1100 bp and 600 bp respectively were subcloned from pKC1 in phagemid pbluescript and were called pKCE11 and pKCN6.

[0152] Plasmids pKC1, pKCE11 and pKCN6 were used to determine the nucleotide sequence of the kappa-carrageenase gene.

[0153] Section 2:

[0154] Determination of the Sequences of the Genes Coding for the Kappa-carrageenases of Alteromonas carrageenovora and Cytophaga drobachiensis

[0155] 1. Sequence of the Alteromonas carrageenovora Gene

[0156] The number of nucleotides in the pKA3 insert is 2180 bp. Translation in the six reading frames reveals the presence of three open frames, only one of which is complete; this one separates the other two, which are only partial. All three of them are located on the same DNA strand. The secbnd open frame, called cgkA, read in the third reading frame, contains 1191 bp [SEQ ID No. 5].

[0157] The translation product of the cgkA gene corresponds to a protein of 397 amino acids with a theoretical molecular weight of 44,212 Da (SEQ ID No. 6). The hydropathic profile of this protein shows a highly hydrophobic domain, extending over 25 amino acids, at the N-terminal end. This domain comprises a positively charged amino acid (Lys) followed by a segment rich in hydrophobic amino acids and then by three polar amino acids. These results suggest that a signal peptide is involved. The N-terminal sequence of the protein purified from the culture supernatant was determined, thereby confirming the identity of the gene. These results indicate that the signal peptidase cleaves the protein between residues 25 and 26, which is consistent with Von Heijne's rule (-3,-1). The mature protein therefore has a theoretical molecular weight of 41.6 kDa.

[0158] 2. Sequence of the Cytophaga drobachiensis Gene

[0159] The pKC1 insert of 4425 bp contains a single open reading frame of 1635 bp, called cgka (SEQ ID No. 7).

[0160] The protein translated from the kappa-carrageenase gene is a protein comprising 545 amino acids with a molecular weight of 61.466 kDa [SEQ ID No. 8].

[0161] The hydropathic profile of this protein shows a highly hydrophobic domain at the N-terminal end, suggesting that a signal peptide is involved.

[0162] According to Von Heijne's rule (−3, −1), the cleavage site of the signal peptidase should be situated between threonine and serine in positions 35 and 36 respectively, with the codon ATG⁸⁷⁵ as the initiation codon.

[0163] The molecular weight of the protein, calculated after removal of the signal peptide, is 57.4 kDa, which is greater than the molecular weight determined for the purified extracellular κ-carrageenase, namely 40.0 kDa.

[0164] Section 3:

[0165] Comparison of the Protein Sequences of the κ-carrageenases of Alteromonas carrageenovora and Cytophaga drobachiensis

[0166] The κ-carrageenase of C. drobachiensis has a similarity of 36.1% with the κ-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora over the whole of the linear sequence alignment.

[0167] This similarity is particularly high between amino acids 117 and 262 (51.8%) (numbering of the κ-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora) (FIG. 3).

[0168] As previously, this similarity is substantiated by HCA analysis, which shows an HCA score between the two proteins of 75.4% over said domain of 145 amino acids (FIG. 4).

[0169] HCA analysis also shows that these two proteins belong to family 16 of glycosyl hydrolases, which includes endoxyglucan transferases (XET), laminarinases, lichenases and agarases. In fact, the HCA score of the two kappa-carrageenases is 67.5% with XET, 67.6% with laminarinases, 73.7% with lichenases and 71.5% with agarases.

1 8 2085 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA (genomic) NO CDS join(211..1683, 1880..2083) 1 AAGCTTTCCG ATTCTATCAT CGAAGTCATA GGAGTGGGTA AACAAAAAAG CATGAAACTA 60 GCTTTTTAAA ATACAGACTT TCAATATAGG TCGCACACAA TATTAACGAA TAAATAAGCA 120 AATCATATAC ATAATCATTG CTTTAAATAT GTTTTAATAC AGATATAAAC ATAGTATGTT 180 TGTGTTTTTG GTATCTATCG GAGTGAAAAC ATG CGC TTA TAT TTT AGA AAG TTG 234 Met Arg Leu Tyr Phe Arg Lys Leu 1 5 TGG TTA ACA AAT TTA TTT TTA GGC GGA GCA CTG GCC TCT TCA GCT GCG 282 Trp Leu Thr Asn Leu Phe Leu Gly Gly Ala Leu Ala Ser Ser Ala Ala 10 15 20 ATA GGG GCT GTC TCC CCC AAG ACT TAT AAG GAC GCA GAT TTT TAT GTT 330 Ile Gly Ala Val Ser Pro Lys Thr Tyr Lys Asp Ala Asp Phe Tyr Val 25 30 35 40 GCC CCT ACT CAA CAA GAT GTT AAC TAT GAT TTA GTT GAT GAT TTT GGC 378 Ala Pro Thr Gln Gln Asp Val Asn Tyr Asp Leu Val Asp Asp Phe Gly 45 50 55 GCT AAT GGA AAC GAC ACT AGT GAT GAC AGT AAT GCT TTA CAA AGA GCA 426 Ala Asn Gly Asn Asp Thr Ser Asp Asp Ser Asn Ala Leu Gln Arg Ala 60 65 70 ATT AAT GCT ATT AGT AGA AAA CCG AAT GGG GGC ACT TTA CTA ATA CCG 474 Ile Asn Ala Ile Ser Arg Lys Pro Asn Gly Gly Thr Leu Leu Ile Pro 75 80 85 AAT GGA ACT TAC CAT TTC CTC GGC ATA CAG ATG AAG TCG AAC GTA CAC 522 Asn Gly Thr Tyr His Phe Leu Gly Ile Gln Met Lys Ser Asn Val His 90 95 100 ATC CGT GTT GAG AGT GAC GTG ATA ATC AAG CCA ACG TGG AAT GGG GAT 570 Ile Arg Val Glu Ser Asp Val Ile Ile Lys Pro Thr Trp Asn Gly Asp 105 110 115 120 GGC AAA AAC CAC CGA CTA TTT GAA GTT GGC GTA AAC AAT ATT GTA AGA 618 Gly Lys Asn His Arg Leu Phe Glu Val Gly Val Asn Asn Ile Val Arg 125 130 135 AAC TTC AGC TTT CAA GGG TTA GGA AAC GGT TTT TTG GTG GAT TTT AAA 666 Asn Phe Ser Phe Gln Gly Leu Gly Asn Gly Phe Leu Val Asp Phe Lys 140 145 150 GAT TCT CGC GAC AAA AAC TTA GCT GTT TTT AAG TTA GGC GAT GTT AGA 714 Asp Ser Arg Asp Lys Asn Leu Ala Val Phe Lys Leu Gly Asp Val Arg 155 160 165 AAT TAC AAA ATT TCC AAT TTT ACC ATT GAT GAT AAT AAA ACG ATA TTT 762 Asn Tyr Lys Ile Ser Asn Phe Thr Ile Asp Asp Asn Lys Thr Ile Phe 170 175 180 GCC TCA ATT TTA GTG GAC GTA ACA GAA CGT AAT GGG CGG TTA CAT TGG 810 Ala Ser Ile Leu Val Asp Val Thr Glu Arg Asn Gly Arg Leu His Trp 185 190 195 200 TCG CGT AAT GGA ATT ATC GAA AGA ATA AAA CAA AAT AAC GCT TTG TTC 858 Ser Arg Asn Gly Ile Ile Glu Arg Ile Lys Gln Asn Asn Ala Leu Phe 205 210 215 GGC TAC GGC CTT ATT CAA ACC TAT GGC GCA GAT AAT ATT TTG TTT AGG 906 Gly Tyr Gly Leu Ile Gln Thr Tyr Gly Ala Asp Asn Ile Leu Phe Arg 220 225 230 AAC CTC CAT TCG GAA GGC GGA ATT GCG TTA CGG ATG GAA ACT GAC AAC 954 Asn Leu His Ser Glu Gly Gly Ile Ala Leu Arg Met Glu Thr Asp Asn 235 240 245 TTA CTT ATG AAA AAT TAT AAG CAA GGC GGA ATA AGA AAC ATC TTT GCT 1002 Leu Leu Met Lys Asn Tyr Lys Gln Gly Gly Ile Arg Asn Ile Phe Ala 250 255 260 GAT AAT ATC AGA TGT AGC AAA GGA CTT GCG GCG GTC ATG TTT GGC CCA 1050 Asp Asn Ile Arg Cys Ser Lys Gly Leu Ala Ala Val Met Phe Gly Pro 265 270 275 280 CAT TTT ATG AAG AAT GGA GAT GTG CAA GTG ACC AAT GTC AGC TCA GTT 1098 His Phe Met Lys Asn Gly Asp Val Gln Val Thr Asn Val Ser Ser Val 285 290 295 AGT TGC GGT TCG GCT GTA CGA AGT GAT AGT GGA TTT GTC GAA CTC TTT 1146 Ser Cys Gly Ser Ala Val Arg Ser Asp Ser Gly Phe Val Glu Leu Phe 300 305 310 AGC CCG ACA GAC GAA GTA CAT ACG CGT CAA AGT TGG AAA CAA GCC GTT 1194 Ser Pro Thr Asp Glu Val His Thr Arg Gln Ser Trp Lys Gln Ala Val 315 320 325 GAA AGT AAA TTG GGC CGA GGG TGT GCG CAA ACC CCT TAT GCT AGA GGT 1242 Glu Ser Lys Leu Gly Arg Gly Cys Ala Gln Thr Pro Tyr Ala Arg Gly 330 335 340 AAT GGT GGT ACA CGG TGG GCG GCT CGC GTA ACA CAA AAA GAC GCG TGT 1290 Asn Gly Gly Thr Arg Trp Ala Ala Arg Val Thr Gln Lys Asp Ala Cys 345 350 355 360 TTA GAT AAA GCA AAA CTG GAA TAT GGA ATA GAG CCT GGT TCA TTT GGC 1338 Leu Asp Lys Ala Lys Leu Glu Tyr Gly Ile Glu Pro Gly Ser Phe Gly 365 370 375 ACG GTT AAA GTC TTT GAT GTT ACA GCG CGT TTT GGT TAT AAC GCA GAT 1386 Thr Val Lys Val Phe Asp Val Thr Ala Arg Phe Gly Tyr Asn Ala Asp 380 385 390 CTT AAA CAG GAC CAG CTA GAC TAC TTT TCT ACA TCC AAC CCT ATG TGC 1434 Leu Lys Gln Asp Gln Leu Asp Tyr Phe Ser Thr Ser Asn Pro Met Cys 395 400 405 AAG CGT GTA TGC CTT CCT ACA AAA GAA CAA TGG AGT AAG CAA GGC CAA 1482 Lys Arg Val Cys Leu Pro Thr Lys Glu Gln Trp Ser Lys Gln Gly Gln 410 415 420 ATT TAC ATT GGT CCG TCA TTA GCT GCA GTA ATT GAT ACC ACA CCT GAA 1530 Ile Tyr Ile Gly Pro Ser Leu Ala Ala Val Ile Asp Thr Thr Pro Glu 425 430 435 440 ACT TCA AAA TAC GAT TAT GAT GTG AAA ACT TTT AAC GTC AAA AGA ATA 1578 Thr Ser Lys Tyr Asp Tyr Asp Val Lys Thr Phe Asn Val Lys Arg Ile 445 450 455 AAT TTT CCT GTA AAT TCA CAC AAG ACT ATC GAC ACG AAT ACT GAA AGT 1626 Asn Phe Pro Val Asn Ser His Lys Thr Ile Asp Thr Asn Thr Glu Ser 460 465 470 AGC CGT GTC TGC AAT TAT TAC GGT ATG TCC GAA TGC TCC AGC AGT CGA 1674 Ser Arg Val Cys Asn Tyr Tyr Gly Met Ser Glu Cys Ser Ser Ser Arg 475 480 485 TGG GAG CGA TAGATTAAGC CGCTATATTC ATTTACTAGG TAAAACTTCA 1723 Trp Glu Arg 490 AGCCGCATTC GAAGAACTAT CGAACGCGGC TTTTTTGTTA AGAGCGCCTA TGACTCAGTA 1783 TATTTTGTAT AAATATAATT TTACATCTTG TTAAAGTAAA CATCATATGT TTATATAGGT 1843 GCAATCTAAT TTGTTAATAT AGTGTTGGAG ATAGGT ATG AAA GGT GTT TCT ACG 1897 Met Lys Gly Val Ser Thr 495 AAA AAT GCT CTT TTA TTT GCA GGC TTT TCG TTA AGT CTA GTT GCA CAG 1945 Lys Asn Ala Leu Leu Phe Ala Gly Phe Ser Leu Ser Leu Val Ala Gln 500 505 510 TCA GTT AGT GCA CAA GAA GCA AAA CAG CCT GAA AAA GAA GAA AAA GAT 1993 Ser Val Ser Ala Gln Glu Ala Lys Gln Pro Glu Lys Glu Glu Lys Asp 515 520 525 GTT GAG GTG ATT TTG GTA TCG GCA CAA AAG CGT GAG CAA GCG CTT AAA 2041 Val Glu Val Ile Leu Val Ser Ala Gln Lys Arg Glu Gln Ala Leu Lys 530 535 540 545 GAA GTG CCT GTA TCA ATT GAA GTT ATT CAA GGC GAC CTT CTA GA 2085 Glu Val Pro Val Ser Ile Glu Val Ile Gln Gly Asp Leu Leu 550 555 559 amino acids amino acid linear protein 2 Met Arg Leu Tyr Phe Arg Lys Leu Trp Leu Thr Asn Leu Phe Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Gly Ala Leu Ala Ser Ser Ala Ala Ile Gly Ala Val Ser Pro Lys Thr 20 25 30 Tyr Lys Asp Ala Asp Phe Tyr Val Ala Pro Thr Gln Gln Asp Val Asn 35 40 45 Tyr Asp Leu Val Asp Asp Phe Gly Ala Asn Gly Asn Asp Thr Ser Asp 50 55 60 Asp Ser Asn Ala Leu Gln Arg Ala Ile Asn Ala Ile Ser Arg Lys Pro 65 70 75 80 Asn Gly Gly Thr Leu Leu Ile Pro Asn Gly Thr Tyr His Phe Leu Gly 85 90 95 Ile Gln Met Lys Ser Asn Val His Ile Arg Val Glu Ser Asp Val Ile 100 105 110 Ile Lys Pro Thr Trp Asn Gly Asp Gly Lys Asn His Arg Leu Phe Glu 115 120 125 Val Gly Val Asn Asn Ile Val Arg Asn Phe Ser Phe Gln Gly Leu Gly 130 135 140 Asn Gly Phe Leu Val Asp Phe Lys Asp Ser Arg Asp Lys Asn Leu Ala 145 150 155 160 Val Phe Lys Leu Gly Asp Val Arg Asn Tyr Lys Ile Ser Asn Phe Thr 165 170 175 Ile Asp Asp Asn Lys Thr Ile Phe Ala Ser Ile Leu Val Asp Val Thr 180 185 190 Glu Arg Asn Gly Arg Leu His Trp Ser Arg Asn Gly Ile Ile Glu Arg 195 200 205 Ile Lys Gln Asn Asn Ala Leu Phe Gly Tyr Gly Leu Ile Gln Thr Tyr 210 215 220 Gly Ala Asp Asn Ile Leu Phe Arg Asn Leu His Ser Glu Gly Gly Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Leu Arg Met Glu Thr Asp Asn Leu Leu Met Lys Asn Tyr Lys Gln 245 250 255 Gly Gly Ile Arg Asn Ile Phe Ala Asp Asn Ile Arg Cys Ser Lys Gly 260 265 270 Leu Ala Ala Val Met Phe Gly Pro His Phe Met Lys Asn Gly Asp Val 275 280 285 Gln Val Thr Asn Val Ser Ser Val Ser Cys Gly Ser Ala Val Arg Ser 290 295 300 Asp Ser Gly Phe Val Glu Leu Phe Ser Pro Thr Asp Glu Val His Thr 305 310 315 320 Arg Gln Ser Trp Lys Gln Ala Val Glu Ser Lys Leu Gly Arg Gly Cys 325 330 335 Ala Gln Thr Pro Tyr Ala Arg Gly Asn Gly Gly Thr Arg Trp Ala Ala 340 345 350 Arg Val Thr Gln Lys Asp Ala Cys Leu Asp Lys Ala Lys Leu Glu Tyr 355 360 365 Gly Ile Glu Pro Gly Ser Phe Gly Thr Val Lys Val Phe Asp Val Thr 370 375 380 Ala Arg Phe Gly Tyr Asn Ala Asp Leu Lys Gln Asp Gln Leu Asp Tyr 385 390 395 400 Phe Ser Thr Ser Asn Pro Met Cys Lys Arg Val Cys Leu Pro Thr Lys 405 410 415 Glu Gln Trp Ser Lys Gln Gly Gln Ile Tyr Ile Gly Pro Ser Leu Ala 420 425 430 Ala Val Ile Asp Thr Thr Pro Glu Thr Ser Lys Tyr Asp Tyr Asp Val 435 440 445 Lys Thr Phe Asn Val Lys Arg Ile Asn Phe Pro Val Asn Ser His Lys 450 455 460 Thr Ile Asp Thr Asn Thr Glu Ser Ser Arg Val Cys Asn Tyr Tyr Gly 465 470 475 480 Met Ser Glu Cys Ser Ser Ser Arg Trp Glu Arg Met Lys Gly Val Ser 485 490 495 Thr Lys Asn Ala Leu Leu Phe Ala Gly Phe Ser Leu Ser Leu Val Ala 500 505 510 Gln Ser Val Ser Ala Gln Glu Ala Lys Gln Pro Glu Lys Glu Glu Lys 515 520 525 Asp Val Glu Val Ile Leu Val Ser Ala Gln Lys Arg Glu Gln Ala Leu 530 535 540 Lys Glu Val Pro Val Ser Ile Glu Val Ile Gln Gly Asp Leu Leu 545 550 555 1997 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA (genomic) NO CDS join(333..1805, 1866..1997) 3 CCCTAAAAAC TATTCTTCAT ACCCTTTGAT GTATACGTTT AAACTATAGG GAGTTAATCT 60 GGTTTTGGTG CAATTCTAGT TTAATAAATG AAGCCTTCTT TTTTGACTTA CATTTTATTA 120 ACCTCTTGAA TTCTTGGGGC TTGCTAATTA TAAAATACTT AATATCAGGT GGTTGTGTAA 180 AAGAGGTGGA AGGGTATAGG ACCGTTACTT ATAATTGGCC CCTGTCGGAA GGGGGGTTAA 240 AGGTAAAATA GTGTTTAAGT GTATTAATTA ACTTCTATAT AAGTAGGAAA ATACACTATA 300 TATTGCGACA TTATTAACCT TAAATTCTTA CA ATG AAA TTA CAA TTT AAA CCT 353 Met Lys Leu Gln Phe Lys Pro 1 5 GTT TAT TTA GCG TCA ATT GCC ATA ATG GCA ATA GGA TGC ACC AAA GAA 401 Val Tyr Leu Ala Ser Ile Ala Ile Met Ala Ile Gly Cys Thr Lys Glu 10 15 20 GTG ACG GAA AAC GAT ACC TCC GAA ATT TCG GAA GTT CCA ACT GAA TTG 449 Val Thr Glu Asn Asp Thr Ser Glu Ile Ser Glu Val Pro Thr Glu Leu 25 30 35 AGG GCC GCG GCT TCT TCA TTT TAT ACC CCA CCG GGT CAG AAT GTA CGG 497 Arg Ala Ala Ala Ser Ser Phe Tyr Thr Pro Pro Gly Gln Asn Val Arg 40 45 50 55 GCC AAT AAA AAA AAC CTG GTC ACG GAT TAC GGT GTT AAC CAC AAT GAT 545 Ala Asn Lys Lys Asn Leu Val Thr Asp Tyr Gly Val Asn His Asn Asp 60 65 70 CAG AAC GAT GAT AGT AGC AAA TTA AAC CTG GCT ATC AAA GAT TTA TCG 593 Gln Asn Asp Asp Ser Ser Lys Leu Asn Leu Ala Ile Lys Asp Leu Ser 75 80 85 GAT ACC GGT GGT ATA CTG ACC CTT CCT AAG GGA AAG TAC TAT TTG ACC 641 Asp Thr Gly Gly Ile Leu Thr Leu Pro Lys Gly Lys Tyr Tyr Leu Thr 90 95 100 AAA ATT AGA ATG CGC TCT AAT GTA CAT CTT GAA ATA GAA AAG GGA ACG 689 Lys Ile Arg Met Arg Ser Asn Val His Leu Glu Ile Glu Lys Gly Thr 105 110 115 GTA ATC TAT CCG ACC AAG GGG TTG ACT CCT GCG AAG AAT CAC AGA ATT 737 Val Ile Tyr Pro Thr Lys Gly Leu Thr Pro Ala Lys Asn His Arg Ile 120 125 130 135 TTT GAT TTT GCC AGT AAA ACA GAG GAA AAA ATA GAA AAC GCC AGT ATA 785 Phe Asp Phe Ala Ser Lys Thr Glu Glu Lys Ile Glu Asn Ala Ser Ile 140 145 150 GTG GGT AAA GGA GGT AAG TTT ATA GTA GAC CTA AGA GGC AAC AGT TCT 833 Val Gly Lys Gly Gly Lys Phe Ile Val Asp Leu Arg Gly Asn Ser Ser 155 160 165 AAA AAC CAA ATT GTA GCC GAT GTT GGT AAC GTA ACC AAC TTT AAA ATA 881 Lys Asn Gln Ile Val Ala Asp Val Gly Asn Val Thr Asn Phe Lys Ile 170 175 180 TCG AAT TTT ACG ATC AAG GAT GAA AAA ACC ATC TTT GCT TCG ATA TTG 929 Ser Asn Phe Thr Ile Lys Asp Glu Lys Thr Ile Phe Ala Ser Ile Leu 185 190 195 GTA AGC TTT ACG GAT AAG GCA GGC AAT GCT TGG CCA CAT AAA GGT ATT 977 Val Ser Phe Thr Asp Lys Ala Gly Asn Ala Trp Pro His Lys Gly Ile 200 205 210 215 ATT GAG AAT ATA GAC CAG GCG AAT GCC CAT ACG GGA TAT GGC CTC ATA 1025 Ile Glu Asn Ile Asp Gln Ala Asn Ala His Thr Gly Tyr Gly Leu Ile 220 225 230 CAG GCG TAC GCG GCA GAT AAC ATT CTG TTC AAC AAT CTA AGT TGT ACG 1073 Gln Ala Tyr Ala Ala Asp Asn Ile Leu Phe Asn Asn Leu Ser Cys Thr 235 240 245 GGC GGG GTA ACC TTG CGT TTA GAA ACC GAC AAC CTC GCT ATG AAA ACC 1121 Gly Gly Val Thr Leu Arg Leu Glu Thr Asp Asn Leu Ala Met Lys Thr 250 255 260 GCT AAA AAA GGG GGG GTA AGG GAT ATT TTT GCC ACA AAG ATC AAG AAT 1169 Ala Lys Lys Gly Gly Val Arg Asp Ile Phe Ala Thr Lys Ile Lys Asn 265 270 275 ACC AAT GGC TTG ACC CCG GTA ATG TTC TCT CCC CAT TTT ATG GAA AAC 1217 Thr Asn Gly Leu Thr Pro Val Met Phe Ser Pro His Phe Met Glu Asn 280 285 290 295 GGT AAA GTG ACC ATA GAT GAT GTA ACC GCC ATC GGT TGT GCA TAT GCC 1265 Gly Lys Val Thr Ile Asp Asp Val Thr Ala Ile Gly Cys Ala Tyr Ala 300 305 310 GTA CGT GTA GAG CAC GGT TTT ATA GAG ATT TTC GAT AAG GGG AAT AGG 1313 Val Arg Val Glu His Gly Phe Ile Glu Ile Phe Asp Lys Gly Asn Arg 315 320 325 GCA AGT GCC GAC GCT TTC AAG AAC TAT ATT GAA GGT ATT CTA GGA GCT 1361 Ala Ser Ala Asp Ala Phe Lys Asn Tyr Ile Glu Gly Ile Leu Gly Ala 330 335 340 GGC TCG GTA GAA GTC GTG TAC AAA CGT AAT AAC GGA AGA ACA TGG GCG 1409 Gly Ser Val Glu Val Val Tyr Lys Arg Asn Asn Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala 345 350 355 GCA CGT ATC GCA AAC GAC TTT AAC GAA GCG GCG TAT AAC CAC TCC AAT 1457 Ala Arg Ile Ala Asn Asp Phe Asn Glu Ala Ala Tyr Asn His Ser Asn 360 365 370 375 CCT GCC GTT AGC GGA ATC AAA CCA GGG AAA TTC GCC ACA TCT AAG GTA 1505 Pro Ala Val Ser Gly Ile Lys Pro Gly Lys Phe Ala Thr Ser Lys Val 380 385 390 ACC AAT GTT AAG GCA ACC TAT AAG GGT ACT GGC GCC AAA CTC AAG CAG 1553 Thr Asn Val Lys Ala Thr Tyr Lys Gly Thr Gly Ala Lys Leu Lys Gln 395 400 405 GCA TTC TTA TCC TAT TTA CCC TGT TCG GAA CGT TCT AAG GTT TGT CGG 1601 Ala Phe Leu Ser Tyr Leu Pro Cys Ser Glu Arg Ser Lys Val Cys Arg 410 415 420 CCA GGT CCA GAT GGG TTC GAG TAT AAC GGA CCC TCC TTG GGA GTT ACC 1649 Pro Gly Pro Asp Gly Phe Glu Tyr Asn Gly Pro Ser Leu Gly Val Thr 425 430 435 ATC GAT AAC ACG AAA AGG GAC AAC AGC CTT GGC AAT TAT AAC GTC AAT 1697 Ile Asp Asn Thr Lys Arg Asp Asn Ser Leu Gly Asn Tyr Asn Val Asn 440 445 450 455 GTA AGC ACC TCC AGT GTT CAG GGC TTT CCC AAT AAT TAC GTT TTA AAC 1745 Val Ser Thr Ser Ser Val Gln Gly Phe Pro Asn Asn Tyr Val Leu Asn 460 465 470 GTA AAG TAT AAT ACC CCT AAA GTA TGT AAC CAA AAT CTA GGT AGT ATT 1793 Val Lys Tyr Asn Thr Pro Lys Val Cys Asn Gln Asn Leu Gly Ser Ile 475 480 485 ACT TCG TGT AAC TGATCACGAA ACAATTTGTA AATAAAAAGC AGCTGTCCCT 1845 Thr Ser Cys Asn 490 TATTACGGGC GGCTGCTTTT ATG TCT TTA AGC CAT GTC GTG ATT TAT TGG 1895 Met Ser Leu Ser His Val Val Ile Tyr Trp 495 500 CGA CTT TTG ATA AAG GCT TGG ATT TCT TCC GGG GTA AAT ATC GGA TTG 1943 Arg Leu Leu Ile Lys Ala Trp Ile Ser Ser Gly Val Asn Ile Gly Leu 505 510 515 GCC CCT TCC CTA CCG GCT ACC ATA GCT CTA TGC TCC TAT GCA CAG GCG 1991 Ala Pro Ser Leu Pro Ala Thr Ile Ala Leu Cys Ser Tyr Ala Gln Ala 520 525 530 AAA TCT 1997 Lys Ser 535 535 amino acids amino acid linear protein 4 Met Lys Leu Gln Phe Lys Pro Val Tyr Leu Ala Ser Ile Ala Ile Met 1 5 10 15 Ala Ile Gly Cys Thr Lys Glu Val Thr Glu Asn Asp Thr Ser Glu Ile 20 25 30 Ser Glu Val Pro Thr Glu Leu Arg Ala Ala Ala Ser Ser Phe Tyr Thr 35 40 45 Pro Pro Gly Gln Asn Val Arg Ala Asn Lys Lys Asn Leu Val Thr Asp 50 55 60 Tyr Gly Val Asn His Asn Asp Gln Asn Asp Asp Ser Ser Lys Leu Asn 65 70 75 80 Leu Ala Ile Lys Asp Leu Ser Asp Thr Gly Gly Ile Leu Thr Leu Pro 85 90 95 Lys Gly Lys Tyr Tyr Leu Thr Lys Ile Arg Met Arg Ser Asn Val His 100 105 110 Leu Glu Ile Glu Lys Gly Thr Val Ile Tyr Pro Thr Lys Gly Leu Thr 115 120 125 Pro Ala Lys Asn His Arg Ile Phe Asp Phe Ala Ser Lys Thr Glu Glu 130 135 140 Lys Ile Glu Asn Ala Ser Ile Val Gly Lys Gly Gly Lys Phe Ile Val 145 150 155 160 Asp Leu Arg Gly Asn Ser Ser Lys Asn Gln Ile Val Ala Asp Val Gly 165 170 175 Asn Val Thr Asn Phe Lys Ile Ser Asn Phe Thr Ile Lys Asp Glu Lys 180 185 190 Thr Ile Phe Ala Ser Ile Leu Val Ser Phe Thr Asp Lys Ala Gly Asn 195 200 205 Ala Trp Pro His Lys Gly Ile Ile Glu Asn Ile Asp Gln Ala Asn Ala 210 215 220 His Thr Gly Tyr Gly Leu Ile Gln Ala Tyr Ala Ala Asp Asn Ile Leu 225 230 235 240 Phe Asn Asn Leu Ser Cys Thr Gly Gly Val Thr Leu Arg Leu Glu Thr 245 250 255 Asp Asn Leu Ala Met Lys Thr Ala Lys Lys Gly Gly Val Arg Asp Ile 260 265 270 Phe Ala Thr Lys Ile Lys Asn Thr Asn Gly Leu Thr Pro Val Met Phe 275 280 285 Ser Pro His Phe Met Glu Asn Gly Lys Val Thr Ile Asp Asp Val Thr 290 295 300 Ala Ile Gly Cys Ala Tyr Ala Val Arg Val Glu His Gly Phe Ile Glu 305 310 315 320 Ile Phe Asp Lys Gly Asn Arg Ala Ser Ala Asp Ala Phe Lys Asn Tyr 325 330 335 Ile Glu Gly Ile Leu Gly Ala Gly Ser Val Glu Val Val Tyr Lys Arg 340 345 350 Asn Asn Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Ala Arg Ile Ala Asn Asp Phe Asn Glu 355 360 365 Ala Ala Tyr Asn His Ser Asn Pro Ala Val Ser Gly Ile Lys Pro Gly 370 375 380 Lys Phe Ala Thr Ser Lys Val Thr Asn Val Lys Ala Thr Tyr Lys Gly 385 390 395 400 Thr Gly Ala Lys Leu Lys Gln Ala Phe Leu Ser Tyr Leu Pro Cys Ser 405 410 415 Glu Arg Ser Lys Val Cys Arg Pro Gly Pro Asp Gly Phe Glu Tyr Asn 420 425 430 Gly Pro Ser Leu Gly Val Thr Ile Asp Asn Thr Lys Arg Asp Asn Ser 435 440 445 Leu Gly Asn Tyr Asn Val Asn Val Ser Thr Ser Ser Val Gln Gly Phe 450 455 460 Pro Asn Asn Tyr Val Leu Asn Val Lys Tyr Asn Thr Pro Lys Val Cys 465 470 475 480 Asn Gln Asn Leu Gly Ser Ile Thr Ser Cys Asn Met Ser Leu Ser His 485 490 495 Val Val Ile Tyr Trp Arg Leu Leu Ile Lys Ala Trp Ile Ser Ser Gly 500 505 510 Val Asn Ile Gly Leu Ala Pro Ser Leu Pro Ala Thr Ile Ala Leu Cys 515 520 525 Ser Tyr Ala Gln Ala Lys Ser 530 535 2180 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA (genomic) NO CDS join(1..498, 741..1931, 2009..2179) 5 GAT CAT ATC ATT CCT TTG CAA ATT AAA AAT TCT CAA GAT AGT CAA ATA 48 Asp His Ile Ile Pro Leu Gln Ile Lys Asn Ser Gln Asp Ser Gln Ile 1 5 10 15 ATT AGT TTT TTT AAA GCT GAC AAA GGG AGT GTG AGC AGG CAA GTA CAC 96 Ile Ser Phe Phe Lys Ala Asp Lys Gly Ser Val Ser Arg Gln Val His 20 25 30 CCA CCT TGG CCT GTG CCT TGT AAA AGT AAA CTG CAA GAG CAA GAT AGT 144 Pro Pro Trp Pro Val Pro Cys Lys Ser Lys Leu Gln Glu Gln Asp Ser 35 40 45 AGT GAG TCT AAA GAG AGT AAG GCA GAG CAA GTT AAA ATT AAC AAC TGC 192 Ser Glu Ser Lys Glu Ser Lys Ala Glu Gln Val Lys Ile Asn Asn Cys 50 55 60 GTT GTA CAG AAC GCA ATG CTG TAC ATA GAA AAC AAT TAT TTC AAC GAT 240 Val Val Gln Asn Ala Met Leu Tyr Ile Glu Asn Asn Tyr Phe Asn Asp 65 70 75 80 ATA AAT ATA GAC ACG GTT GCT TTT TCT GTT GGC GTA AGT CGC TCT TAT 288 Ile Asn Ile Asp Thr Val Ala Phe Ser Val Gly Val Ser Arg Ser Tyr 85 90 95 CTC GTT AAA CAA TTT AAG TTA GCA ACG AAT AAA ACG ATT AAT AAT AGA 336 Leu Val Lys Gln Phe Lys Leu Ala Thr Asn Lys Thr Ile Asn Asn Arg 100 105 110 ATC ATA GAA GTA AGA ATA GAG CAG GCT AAA AAA GTA TTA CTA AAA AAA 384 Ile Ile Glu Val Arg Ile Glu Gln Ala Lys Lys Val Leu Leu Lys Lys 115 120 125 TCT GTT ACA GAA ACA GCT TAT GAA GTT GGT TTT AAT AAC TCA AAC TAC 432 Ser Val Thr Glu Thr Ala Tyr Glu Val Gly Phe Asn Asn Ser Asn Tyr 130 135 140 TTC GCG ACA GTT TTT AAA AAA AGA ACA AAC TAC ACG CCC AAG CAA TTT 480 Phe Ala Thr Val Phe Lys Lys Arg Thr Asn Tyr Thr Pro Lys Gln Phe 145 150 155 160 AAA CGT ACT TTT TCC AGC TAAAACTACA ACTAAATAAC GATTAAAAGC 528 Lys Arg Thr Phe Ser Ser 165 CATTTTTAGA GAACAGTAAA ACCATTTTTT GAGGTTTGGT GTTGTATATA AATATTAAAT 588 ATCCCCACTC GCTCAGCTTT TTTTGTGCGA GTTGTGAGAA TTAGCTTAAC AGGTAAGGTT 648 TACGTATCTG TATATCTAAA CTCTTCGAAT ATAACACTGT ATCTGTTGCT GAGCTGTGGC 708 TCAGTTCACA CTAACAAAGG ATGGATAAAT AA ATG AAA CCT ATA AGT ATT GTG 761 Met Lys Pro Ile Ser Ile Val 170 GCA TTC CCT ATA CCA GCT ATA AGT ATG CTT CTT TTA AGT GCA GTA TCA 809 Ala Phe Pro Ile Pro Ala Ile Ser Met Leu Leu Leu Ser Ala Val Ser 175 180 185 CAA GCA GCA TCT ATG CAA CCT CCC ATC GCA AAA CCT GGT GAA ACA TGG 857 Gln Ala Ala Ser Met Gln Pro Pro Ile Ala Lys Pro Gly Glu Thr Trp 190 195 200 205 ATT TTA CAA GCC AAA CGC TCT GAC GAA TTT AAC GTA AAA GAT GCG ACA 905 Ile Leu Gln Ala Lys Arg Ser Asp Glu Phe Asn Val Lys Asp Ala Thr 210 215 220 AAG TGG AAC TTT CAA ACA GAA AAC TAT GGG GTA TGG TCT TGG AAA AAT 953 Lys Trp Asn Phe Gln Thr Glu Asn Tyr Gly Val Trp Ser Trp Lys Asn 225 230 235 GAA AAT GCG ACA GTA TCT AAT GGC AAA CTA AAA TTA ACC ACT AAG CGA 1001 Glu Asn Ala Thr Val Ser Asn Gly Lys Leu Lys Leu Thr Thr Lys Arg 240 245 250 GAA TCT CAT CAA CGT ACA TTC TGG GAT GGC TGT AAT CAG CAG CAA GTT 1049 Glu Ser His Gln Arg Thr Phe Trp Asp Gly Cys Asn Gln Gln Gln Val 255 260 265 GCA AAT TAC CCA CTT TAT TAT ACA TCG GGT GTC GCT AAA TCC AGA GCT 1097 Ala Asn Tyr Pro Leu Tyr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Lys Ser Arg Ala 270 275 280 285 ACA GGT AAT TAT GGC TAT TAC GAA GCT CGA ATC AAA GGA GCG AGT ACA 1145 Thr Gly Asn Tyr Gly Tyr Tyr Glu Ala Arg Ile Lys Gly Ala Ser Thr 290 295 300 TTT CCT GGC GTA TCG CCT GCT TTT TGG ATG TAT AGC ACC ATT GAC CGT 1193 Phe Pro Gly Val Ser Pro Ala Phe Trp Met Tyr Ser Thr Ile Asp Arg 305 310 315 TCA TTA ACG AAA GAA GGG GAT GTC CAA TAT AGC GAA ATA GAC GTA GTG 1241 Ser Leu Thr Lys Glu Gly Asp Val Gln Tyr Ser Glu Ile Asp Val Val 320 325 330 GAA CTT ACT CAA AAA AGT GCA GTG AGA GAG TCT GAT CAT GAC TTA CAC 1289 Glu Leu Thr Gln Lys Ser Ala Val Arg Glu Ser Asp His Asp Leu His 335 340 345 AAT ATT GTA GTA AAA AAT GGA AAA CCA ACA TGG ATG CGT CCA GGG TCT 1337 Asn Ile Val Val Lys Asn Gly Lys Pro Thr Trp Met Arg Pro Gly Ser 350 355 360 365 TTT CCG CAG ACA AAT CAT AAC GGA TAC CAT CTA CCT TTC GAT CCT CGA 1385 Phe Pro Gln Thr Asn His Asn Gly Tyr His Leu Pro Phe Asp Pro Arg 370 375 380 AAT GAC TTT CAC ACC TAT GGT GTC AAT GTA ACT AAA GAC AAG ATC ACT 1433 Asn Asp Phe His Thr Tyr Gly Val Asn Val Thr Lys Asp Lys Ile Thr 385 390 395 TGG TAC GTA GAT GGT GAA ATT GTG GGC GAA AAG GAT AAC TTA TAC TGG 1481 Trp Tyr Val Asp Gly Glu Ile Val Gly Glu Lys Asp Asn Leu Tyr Trp 400 405 410 CAT CGT CAA ATG AAT CTC ACA TTA TCA CAA GGC TTA CGC GCG CCG CAT 1529 His Arg Gln Met Asn Leu Thr Leu Ser Gln Gly Leu Arg Ala Pro His 415 420 425 ACA CAA TGG AAA TGT AAT CAA TTT TAC CCA TCA GCG AAT AAA TCA GCA 1577 Thr Gln Trp Lys Cys Asn Gln Phe Tyr Pro Ser Ala Asn Lys Ser Ala 430 435 440 445 GAA GGC TTC CCA ACA TCA ATG GAA GTT GAT TAT GTA AGA ACG TGG GTA 1625 Glu Gly Phe Pro Thr Ser Met Glu Val Asp Tyr Val Arg Thr Trp Val 450 455 460 AAG GTG GGC AAT AAC AAC TCT GCT CCA GGC GAG GGG CAG TCA TGT CCT 1673 Lys Val Gly Asn Asn Asn Ser Ala Pro Gly Glu Gly Gln Ser Cys Pro 465 470 475 AAC ACG TTT GTA GCT GTC AAT AGT GTT CAA CTA AGC GCA GCA AAA CAA 1721 Asn Thr Phe Val Ala Val Asn Ser Val Gln Leu Ser Ala Ala Lys Gln 480 485 490 ACA CTT CGA AAG GGC CAA TCT ACA ACG CTA GAA AGC ACA GTT CTT CCA 1769 Thr Leu Arg Lys Gly Gln Ser Thr Thr Leu Glu Ser Thr Val Leu Pro 495 500 505 AAC TGT GCA ACC AAC AAG AAA GTC ATT TAT TCA TCA AGC AAT AAA AAT 1817 Asn Cys Ala Thr Asn Lys Lys Val Ile Tyr Ser Ser Ser Asn Lys Asn 510 515 520 525 GTG GCA ACT GTG AAC AGT GCT GGC GTT GTA AAA GCT AAA AAT AAA GGC 1865 Val Ala Thr Val Asn Ser Ala Gly Val Val Lys Ala Lys Asn Lys Gly 530 535 540 ACT GCG ACG ATT ACG GTT AAA ACT AAA AAC AAA GGG AAA ATA GAT AAA 1913 Thr Ala Thr Ile Thr Val Lys Thr Lys Asn Lys Gly Lys Ile Asp Lys 545 550 555 TTA ACC ATT GCG GTG AAT TAAGCTAACT CAAACTAGCC TCGAAGGATT 1961 Leu Thr Ile Ala Val Asn 560 GAGGCACTTT ATTTATAGGT CTCAGGCTTC GACTTTTTGG AGGGGGT ATG AAA AAG 2017 Met Lys Lys 565 GTA AAT TTA TCC AGC AAG TGG ATA ATT AGC ATT AGT TTA CTA ATC ATT 2065 Val Asn Leu Ser Ser Lys Trp Ile Ile Ser Ile Ser Leu Leu Ile Ile 570 575 580 TGT GAT TAT GTT TAT TTA ATA CGA ACA AAC GTT AAC GAG CAA GCT AAC 2113 Cys Asp Tyr Val Tyr Leu Ile Arg Thr Asn Val Asn Glu Gln Ala Asn 585 590 595 GCA GAA GCT ACT GCA CAT ATG CAT TAC AAA ATA AAT AAT ACG AAA CAC 2161 Ala Glu Ala Thr Ala His Met His Tyr Lys Ile Asn Asn Thr Lys His 600 605 610 TCA AAA GGA AAG CTT GAT C 2180 Ser Lys Gly Lys Leu Asp 615 620 620 amino acids amino acid linear protein 6 Asp His Ile Ile Pro Leu Gln Ile Lys Asn Ser Gln Asp Ser Gln Ile 1 5 10 15 Ile Ser Phe Phe Lys Ala Asp Lys Gly Ser Val Ser Arg Gln Val His 20 25 30 Pro Pro Trp Pro Val Pro Cys Lys Ser Lys Leu Gln Glu Gln Asp Ser 35 40 45 Ser Glu Ser Lys Glu Ser Lys Ala Glu Gln Val Lys Ile Asn Asn Cys 50 55 60 Val Val Gln Asn Ala Met Leu Tyr Ile Glu Asn Asn Tyr Phe Asn Asp 65 70 75 80 Ile Asn Ile Asp Thr Val Ala Phe Ser Val Gly Val Ser Arg Ser Tyr 85 90 95 Leu Val Lys Gln Phe Lys Leu Ala Thr Asn Lys Thr Ile Asn Asn Arg 100 105 110 Ile Ile Glu Val Arg Ile Glu Gln Ala Lys Lys Val Leu Leu Lys Lys 115 120 125 Ser Val Thr Glu Thr Ala Tyr Glu Val Gly Phe Asn Asn Ser Asn Tyr 130 135 140 Phe Ala Thr Val Phe Lys Lys Arg Thr Asn Tyr Thr Pro Lys Gln Phe 145 150 155 160 Lys Arg Thr Phe Ser Ser Met Lys Pro Ile Ser Ile Val Ala Phe Pro 165 170 175 Ile Pro Ala Ile Ser Met Leu Leu Leu Ser Ala Val Ser Gln Ala Ala 180 185 190 Ser Met Gln Pro Pro Ile Ala Lys Pro Gly Glu Thr Trp Ile Leu Gln 195 200 205 Ala Lys Arg Ser Asp Glu Phe Asn Val Lys Asp Ala Thr Lys Trp Asn 210 215 220 Phe Gln Thr Glu Asn Tyr Gly Val Trp Ser Trp Lys Asn Glu Asn Ala 225 230 235 240 Thr Val Ser Asn Gly Lys Leu Lys Leu Thr Thr Lys Arg Glu Ser His 245 250 255 Gln Arg Thr Phe Trp Asp Gly Cys Asn Gln Gln Gln Val Ala Asn Tyr 260 265 270 Pro Leu Tyr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Val Ala Lys Ser Arg Ala Thr Gly Asn 275 280 285 Tyr Gly Tyr Tyr Glu Ala Arg Ile Lys Gly Ala Ser Thr Phe Pro Gly 290 295 300 Val Ser Pro Ala Phe Trp Met Tyr Ser Thr Ile Asp Arg Ser Leu Thr 305 310 315 320 Lys Glu Gly Asp Val Gln Tyr Ser Glu Ile Asp Val Val Glu Leu Thr 325 330 335 Gln Lys Ser Ala Val Arg Glu Ser Asp His Asp Leu His Asn Ile Val 340 345 350 Val Lys Asn Gly Lys Pro Thr Trp Met Arg Pro Gly Ser Phe Pro Gln 355 360 365 Thr Asn His Asn Gly Tyr His Leu Pro Phe Asp Pro Arg Asn Asp Phe 370 375 380 His Thr Tyr Gly Val Asn Val Thr Lys Asp Lys Ile Thr Trp Tyr Val 385 390 395 400 Asp Gly Glu Ile Val Gly Glu Lys Asp Asn Leu Tyr Trp His Arg Gln 405 410 415 Met Asn Leu Thr Leu Ser Gln Gly Leu Arg Ala Pro His Thr Gln Trp 420 425 430 Lys Cys Asn Gln Phe Tyr Pro Ser Ala Asn Lys Ser Ala Glu Gly Phe 435 440 445 Pro Thr Ser Met Glu Val Asp Tyr Val Arg Thr Trp Val Lys Val Gly 450 455 460 Asn Asn Asn Ser Ala Pro Gly Glu Gly Gln Ser Cys Pro Asn Thr Phe 465 470 475 480 Val Ala Val Asn Ser Val Gln Leu Ser Ala Ala Lys Gln Thr Leu Arg 485 490 495 Lys Gly Gln Ser Thr Thr Leu Glu Ser Thr Val Leu Pro Asn Cys Ala 500 505 510 Thr Asn Lys Lys Val Ile Tyr Ser Ser Ser Asn Lys Asn Val Ala Thr 515 520 525 Val Asn Ser Ala Gly Val Val Lys Ala Lys Asn Lys Gly Thr Ala Thr 530 535 540 Ile Thr Val Lys Thr Lys Asn Lys Gly Lys Ile Asp Lys Leu Thr Ile 545 550 555 560 Ala Val Asn Met Lys Lys Val Asn Leu Ser Ser Lys Trp Ile Ile Ser 565 570 575 Ile Ser Leu Leu Ile Ile Cys Asp Tyr Val Tyr Leu Ile Arg Thr Asn 580 585 590 Val Asn Glu Gln Ala Asn Ala Glu Ala Thr Ala His Met His Tyr Lys 595 600 605 Ile Asn Asn Thr Lys His Ser Lys Gly Lys Leu Asp 610 615 620 2600 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA (genomic) NO CDS 875..2509 7 GCCTCCGTAT TCGACAATGT TGTACGATGC TTGGCGATTC GGACTCTGTT TAAGCACTCG 60 ATTTCGTAAA GGCACTATCC ACTCATTCAT TCCGACTCAA TATTCTTTTC GACAAATGCA 120 ACCGGTTCCA TTGAAAAGGC CCTAAAAATA CAGCTTTCCC GCCCCCCATC GTAGAAGGTT 180 CCAATATGCT TCAACCCCTT TTTCAGCCTT ACTTCAGGGG TATTACTTTC ATGCCTAGGG 240 CCGCAAATAC ATTCGCTTGG ACCCAGTCAC CTATATAATT GAATACGGAA CTACCCATGG 300 CTTCCTTCCC TTTGGGAACC TATGGTACAG ACTTGCCTTT TTTAAACCGG TTACTTCAGC 360 TAATTCGCCA AGCTGGTTCC TTCATAACCT TTGGCCCGAA ACACCTTGCA AGCACATAAA 420 TCTTATCCAA TATTTTGCGG TCTCATGGGA CAAATCTATA ACAAACATTC AATTTTACCA 480 AACGTTCGGT AATAAATCTA GTCAAAAACG GGGTCCGATT CATTTTAGAA GAAAGGTAAA 540 GCCCCCAAAA GAGCGGTTTA CTTGAAGATA TGATTTATAA AACACAATAA GTGACAAAGG 600 AAGATCATGG CTATAATTAG TTGAAAAAAC AGGGCTTACC ATGACATGGA GCTTTATTGA 660 AAACAGATGT CCAACAAGAA TAAAGGAGGG CCGTTCGACC GCGACGTTTA AATAAAAACA 720 TATTCCATAT CAAAATTTAA TTAAGGTTCT TTCCTACAGT ATTTATAAGA AATTACTAAA 780 ATTAGTTAGG ATAATACTAC AAAATGGTAA AATTGGATTA CTCAGATTGA ACCATAGCCT 840 CTACTTTAGT CGGCTAACAA AAACAATTAT AGTA ATG AAA AAA CCA AAT TTT 892 Met Lys Lys Pro Asn Phe 1 5 TAT GGC AAG ATG GGT AGA ACT GCA CTT TCA AGT CTT TTC TAC CTC TTT 940 Tyr Gly Lys Met Gly Arg Thr Ala Leu Ser Ser Leu Phe Tyr Leu Phe 10 15 20 TTC CTA GGC CTT GTG TAT GGG CAA CAA CCT ACG AAG ACT TCA AAT CCG 988 Phe Leu Gly Leu Val Tyr Gly Gln Gln Pro Thr Lys Thr Ser Asn Pro 25 30 35 AAC GAT CAG TGG ACC ATC AAA TGG AGT GCT TCG GAC GAA TTC AAC AAA 1036 Asn Asp Gln Trp Thr Ile Lys Trp Ser Ala Ser Asp Glu Phe Asn Lys 40 45 50 AAT GAC CCC GAC TGG GCA AAA TGG ATC AAG ACA GGA AAC CTT CCG AAT 1084 Asn Asp Pro Asp Trp Ala Lys Trp Ile Lys Thr Gly Asn Leu Pro Asn 55 60 65 70 ACA TCG GCA TGG AAA TGG AAC AAT CAA AAA AAC GTA AAG ATT TCC AAC 1132 Thr Ser Ala Trp Lys Trp Asn Asn Gln Lys Asn Val Lys Ile Ser Asn 75 80 85 GGA ATT GCG GAA CTA ACG ATG AGG CAT AAC GCC AAT AAT ACC CCA CCT 1180 Gly Ile Ala Glu Leu Thr Met Arg His Asn Ala Asn Asn Thr Pro Pro 90 95 100 GAC GGA GGA ACC TAT TTC ACC TCT GGG ATA TTT AAG TCG TAC CAA AAA 1228 Asp Gly Gly Thr Tyr Phe Thr Ser Gly Ile Phe Lys Ser Tyr Gln Lys 105 110 115 TTT ACG TAT GGA TAC TTT GAG GCC AAA ATC CAA GGA GCG GAT ATA GGT 1276 Phe Thr Tyr Gly Tyr Phe Glu Ala Lys Ile Gln Gly Ala Asp Ile Gly 120 125 130 GAA GGC GTA TGC CCA TCG TTT TGG CTT TAT AGT GAT TTC GAC TAT TCC 1324 Glu Gly Val Cys Pro Ser Phe Trp Leu Tyr Ser Asp Phe Asp Tyr Ser 135 140 145 150 GTA GCC AAT GGG GAA ACG GTA TAC AGT GAA ATA GAT GTA GTT GAA CTA 1372 Val Ala Asn Gly Glu Thr Val Tyr Ser Glu Ile Asp Val Val Glu Leu 155 160 165 CAA CAA TTC GAT TGG TAT GAA GGC CAT CAG GAC GAC ATT TAC GAC ATG 1420 Gln Gln Phe Asp Trp Tyr Glu Gly His Gln Asp Asp Ile Tyr Asp Met 170 175 180 GAC TTA AAT CTA CAC GCC GTT GTC AAA GAA AAC GGA CAG GGG GTT TGG 1468 Asp Leu Asn Leu His Ala Val Val Lys Glu Asn Gly Gln Gly Val Trp 185 190 195 AAA AGG CCA AAA ATG TAC CCT CAA GAA CAG TTG AAC AAA TGG AGA GCC 1516 Lys Arg Pro Lys Met Tyr Pro Gln Glu Gln Leu Asn Lys Trp Arg Ala 200 205 210 ATG GAC CCG AGT AAA GAC TTT CAT ATC TAT GGT TGT GAA GTG AAC CAG 1564 Met Asp Pro Ser Lys Asp Phe His Ile Tyr Gly Cys Glu Val Asn Gln 215 220 225 230 AAC GAA ATC ATA TGG TAT GTT GAC GGT GTC GAG GTT GCC CGA AAA CCA 1612 Asn Glu Ile Ile Trp Tyr Val Asp Gly Val Glu Val Ala Arg Lys Pro 235 240 245 AAT AAA TAT TGG CAT CGC CCC ATG AAC GTT ACC CTT TCA TTG GGA CTC 1660 Asn Lys Tyr Trp His Arg Pro Met Asn Val Thr Leu Ser Leu Gly Leu 250 255 260 AGA AAA CCA TTT GTG AAA TTT TTC GAC AAT AAG AAC AAT GCC ATA AAT 1708 Arg Lys Pro Phe Val Lys Phe Phe Asp Asn Lys Asn Asn Ala Ile Asn 265 270 275 CCA GAA ACC GAT GCC AAG GCA AGG GAA AAA TTA TCG GAT ATA CCT ACA 1756 Pro Glu Thr Asp Ala Lys Ala Arg Glu Lys Leu Ser Asp Ile Pro Thr 280 285 290 TCG ATG TAT GTG GAT TAC GTT CGG GTC TGG GAA AAA TCA GCA GGT AAC 1804 Ser Met Tyr Val Asp Tyr Val Arg Val Trp Glu Lys Ser Ala Gly Asn 295 300 305 310 ACT ACC AAT CCC CCA ACC AGC GAG GTC GGC ACA CTA AAA ACA AAG GGT 1852 Thr Thr Asn Pro Pro Thr Ser Glu Val Gly Thr Leu Lys Thr Lys Gly 315 320 325 TCG AAA CTG GTG ATT GAC CAT TGG GAT GCA AGT ACA GGG ACT ATT TCG 1900 Ser Lys Leu Val Ile Asp His Trp Asp Ala Ser Thr Gly Thr Ile Ser 330 335 340 GCT GTC AGT AAC AAT ACA AAG ACA GGT CAA TAT GCC GGT TCA GTG AAC 1948 Ala Val Ser Asn Asn Thr Lys Thr Gly Gln Tyr Ala Gly Ser Val Asn 345 350 355 AAC GCG AGC ATC GCC CAG ATA GTA ACA TTA AAA GCG AAT ACT TCA TAT 1996 Asn Ala Ser Ile Ala Gln Ile Val Thr Leu Lys Ala Asn Thr Ser Tyr 360 365 370 AAG GTA TCG GCT TTC GGA AAG GCC AGC TCA CCC GGA ACA TCG GCT TAT 2044 Lys Val Ser Ala Phe Gly Lys Ala Ser Ser Pro Gly Thr Ser Ala Tyr 375 380 385 390 CTA GGC ATT AGT AAA GCA TCC AAC AAC GAA CTC ATA AGC AAT TTT GAA 2092 Leu Gly Ile Ser Lys Ala Ser Asn Asn Glu Leu Ile Ser Asn Phe Glu 395 400 405 TTC AAA ACA ACC TCA TAC TCC AAA GGC GAG ATT GAG ATA AGA ACT GGA 2140 Phe Lys Thr Thr Ser Tyr Ser Lys Gly Glu Ile Glu Ile Arg Thr Gly 410 415 420 AAT GTT CAG GAA TCA TAT CGC ATA TGG TAT TGG TCT TCC GGG CAA GCC 2188 Asn Val Gln Glu Ser Tyr Arg Ile Trp Tyr Trp Ser Ser Gly Gln Ala 425 430 435 TAT TGC GAT GAT TTT AAC CTT GTT GAA ATA AAC AGC GGG GCT TCA CAA 2236 Tyr Cys Asp Asp Phe Asn Leu Val Glu Ile Asn Ser Gly Ala Ser Gln 440 445 450 CTC AAT GAA AAT GAG ACT GAA ACA GCA CTG GAA AAA GGT ATA CAC ATT 2284 Leu Asn Glu Asn Glu Thr Glu Thr Ala Leu Glu Lys Gly Ile His Ile 455 460 465 470 TAT CCG AAT CCC TAT AAA AAC GGT CCA TTG ACA ATC GAT TTT GGC AAA 2332 Tyr Pro Asn Pro Tyr Lys Asn Gly Pro Leu Thr Ile Asp Phe Gly Lys 475 480 485 CCC TTC AGC GGC GAG GTC CAA ATC ACC GGT TTA AAC GGT AGA ACA TTC 2380 Pro Phe Ser Gly Glu Val Gln Ile Thr Gly Leu Asn Gly Arg Thr Phe 490 495 500 TTA AGA AGA AAT GTT GTC GAT CAA ACT TCG GTT CAG CTC CTA GAA TCC 2428 Leu Arg Arg Asn Val Val Asp Gln Thr Ser Val Gln Leu Leu Glu Ser 505 510 515 AAA TCT AAA TTC AAG AGC GGT CTA TAT ATC GTT AAA ATT AGT GGC CCG 2476 Lys Ser Lys Phe Lys Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ile Val Lys Ile Ser Gly Pro 520 525 530 GAT GGA GAG GTT TCA AAA AAG ATA CTC GTG GAG TAACTAAAAA TCAATTTTTA 2529 Asp Gly Glu Val Ser Lys Lys Ile Leu Val Glu 535 540 545 CAGGATTACA GACGGGCAAA GGGATTTTCC TTTGCCCGTT TTTAAAATTA TGGGCGGAAA 2589 CGATTGTTGC G 2600 545 amino acids amino acid linear protein 8 Met Lys Lys Pro Asn Phe Tyr Gly Lys Met Gly Arg Thr Ala Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 Ser Leu Phe Tyr Leu Phe Phe Leu Gly Leu Val Tyr Gly Gln Gln Pro 20 25 30 Thr Lys Thr Ser Asn Pro Asn Asp Gln Trp Thr Ile Lys Trp Ser Ala 35 40 45 Ser Asp Glu Phe Asn Lys Asn Asp Pro Asp Trp Ala Lys Trp Ile Lys 50 55 60 Thr Gly Asn Leu Pro Asn Thr Ser Ala Trp Lys Trp Asn Asn Gln Lys 65 70 75 80 Asn Val Lys Ile Ser Asn Gly Ile Ala Glu Leu Thr Met Arg His Asn 85 90 95 Ala Asn Asn Thr Pro Pro Asp Gly Gly Thr Tyr Phe Thr Ser Gly Ile 100 105 110 Phe Lys Ser Tyr Gln Lys Phe Thr Tyr Gly Tyr Phe Glu Ala Lys Ile 115 120 125 Gln Gly Ala Asp Ile Gly Glu Gly Val Cys Pro Ser Phe Trp Leu Tyr 130 135 140 Ser Asp Phe Asp Tyr Ser Val Ala Asn Gly Glu Thr Val Tyr Ser Glu 145 150 155 160 Ile Asp Val Val Glu Leu Gln Gln Phe Asp Trp Tyr Glu Gly His Gln 165 170 175 Asp Asp Ile Tyr Asp Met Asp Leu Asn Leu His Ala Val Val Lys Glu 180 185 190 Asn Gly Gln Gly Val Trp Lys Arg Pro Lys Met Tyr Pro Gln Glu Gln 195 200 205 Leu Asn Lys Trp Arg Ala Met Asp Pro Ser Lys Asp Phe His Ile Tyr 210 215 220 Gly Cys Glu Val Asn Gln Asn Glu Ile Ile Trp Tyr Val Asp Gly Val 225 230 235 240 Glu Val Ala Arg Lys Pro Asn Lys Tyr Trp His Arg Pro Met Asn Val 245 250 255 Thr Leu Ser Leu Gly Leu Arg Lys Pro Phe Val Lys Phe Phe Asp Asn 260 265 270 Lys Asn Asn Ala Ile Asn Pro Glu Thr Asp Ala Lys Ala Arg Glu Lys 275 280 285 Leu Ser Asp Ile Pro Thr Ser Met Tyr Val Asp Tyr Val Arg Val Trp 290 295 300 Glu Lys Ser Ala Gly Asn Thr Thr Asn Pro Pro Thr Ser Glu Val Gly 305 310 315 320 Thr Leu Lys Thr Lys Gly Ser Lys Leu Val Ile Asp His Trp Asp Ala 325 330 335 Ser Thr Gly Thr Ile Ser Ala Val Ser Asn Asn Thr Lys Thr Gly Gln 340 345 350 Tyr Ala Gly Ser Val Asn Asn Ala Ser Ile Ala Gln Ile Val Thr Leu 355 360 365 Lys Ala Asn Thr Ser Tyr Lys Val Ser Ala Phe Gly Lys Ala Ser Ser 370 375 380 Pro Gly Thr Ser Ala Tyr Leu Gly Ile Ser Lys Ala Ser Asn Asn Glu 385 390 395 400 Leu Ile Ser Asn Phe Glu Phe Lys Thr Thr Ser Tyr Ser Lys Gly Glu 405 410 415 Ile Glu Ile Arg Thr Gly Asn Val Gln Glu Ser Tyr Arg Ile Trp Tyr 420 425 430 Trp Ser Ser Gly Gln Ala Tyr Cys Asp Asp Phe Asn Leu Val Glu Ile 435 440 445 Asn Ser Gly Ala Ser Gln Leu Asn Glu Asn Glu Thr Glu Thr Ala Leu 450 455 460 Glu Lys Gly Ile His Ile Tyr Pro Asn Pro Tyr Lys Asn Gly Pro Leu 465 470 475 480 Thr Ile Asp Phe Gly Lys Pro Phe Ser Gly Glu Val Gln Ile Thr Gly 485 490 495 Leu Asn Gly Arg Thr Phe Leu Arg Arg Asn Val Val Asp Gln Thr Ser 500 505 510 Val Gln Leu Leu Glu Ser Lys Ser Lys Phe Lys Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ile 515 520 525 Val Lys Ile Ser Gly Pro Asp Gly Glu Val Ser Lys Lys Ile Leu Val 530 535 540 Glu 545 

1. Genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis which is greater than or equal to 65% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 2 of said iota-carrageenase.
 2. Genes according to claim 1 wherein the HCA score is greater than or equal to 70%.
 3. Genes according to claim 1 wherein the HCA score is greater than or equal to 75%.
 4. Gene according to claim 1 which codes for the ι-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis and comprises the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID No.
 1. 5. Genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora which is greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 6 of said kappa-carrageenase.
 6. Genes according to claim 5 wherein the HCA score is greater than or equal to 80%.
 7. Genes according to claim 5 wherein the HCA score is greater than or equal to 85%.
 8. Gene according to claim 5 which codes for the κ-carrageenase of Cytophaga drobachiensis and comprises the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID No.
 7. 9. Use of the genes according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for obtaining glycosyl hydrolases by genetic engineering.
 10. Use of the gene according to claim 4 for obtaining the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis by genetic engineering.
 11. Use of the gene according to claim 8 for obtaining the kappa-carrageenase of Cytophaga drobachiensis by genetic engineering. 